Hoover police arrested judicial candidate Chuck Hunter on sex-related charges involving a minor. And state Republican Party officials have now given him an ultimatum to withdraw as a party judicial candidate. (Special/Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.)

The letter gave Hunter until Monday to withdraw from the race in the Nov. 6 general election against Houston Brown, the incumbent judge in the civil division seat based in Birmingham.

Otherwise, Hunter would face action by the party's candidate committee, T.J. Maloney, the state party executive director, said in a statement.

"If Mr. Hunter does not withdraw, the Candidate Committee of the Alabama Republican Executive Committee will hear, in short order, the challenge to his candidacy and make a determination of his ballot status," Maloney said in the statement.

Hunter, 58, was arrested by Hoover police Wednesday on felony charges of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child. He remains held on no bond at the Jefferson County Jail. A first court appearance is set for Monday before District Judge Katrina Ross, court records show.

The former charge is a Class A felony, punishable by 20 years to life in prison. The electronic solicitation charge is a Class B felony, which carries a 10-20 year sentencing range.

Hunter, who also ran unsuccessfully for a civil court seat in 2010, was unopposed in the Republican primary. On Tuesday, the day after his arrest, the Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee officially requested the state party to remove his name from the Nov. 6 ballot.

Bill Armistead, the state party chairman, called on Hunter to withdraw, "in light of recent developments and coupled with Mr. Hunter's previous support of candidates and issues in opposition to the values of the Republican Party," the state party said in a statement Thursday.

The official demand for him to withdraw, which was sent Thursday by certified mail, was effective upon its delivery today.